Drive (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

verb (used with object), drove [drohv] /droʊv/ or (Archaic) drave [dreyv], /dreɪv/, driv·en [driv-uhn], /ˈdrɪv ən/, driv·ing.
  1. to send, expel, or otherwise cause to move by force or compulsion: to drive away the flies;to drive back an attacking army;to drive a person to desperation.
  2. to cause and guide the movement of (a vehicle, an animal, etc.): to drive a car;to drive a mule.
  3. to convey in a vehicle: She drove them to the station.
  4. to force to work or act: He drove the workers until they collapsed.
  5. to impel; constrain; urge; compel.
  6. to carry (business, an agreement, etc.) vigorously through: He drove a hard bargain.
  7. to keep (machinery) going.
  8. Baseball.
    • to cause the advance of (a base runner) by hitting a fair ball: Another blast off of Miller’s bat drives Rojas from first base all the way to third.
    • to cause (a run) to be scored by hitting a fair ball: She drove in two runs in the sixth inning.
  9. to hit (a golf ball), especially from the tee, as with a driver or driving iron: She drove the ball within ten feet of the pin.
  10. Sports.
    • to hit or propel (a ball, puck, shuttlecock, etc.) very hard.
    • to kick (a ball) with much force.
  11. Hunting.
    • to chase (game).
    • to search (a district) for game.
  12. to float (logs) down a river or stream.
  13. (in mining, construction, etc.) to excavate (a mine or tunnel heading).
verb (used without object), drove [drohv] /droʊv/ or (Archaic) drave [dreyv], /dreɪv/, driv·en [driv-uhn], /ˈdrɪv ən/, driv·ing.
  1. to cause and guide the movement of a vehicle or animal, especially to operate an automobile.
  2. to go or travel in a driven vehicle: He drives to work with me.
  3. to hit a golf ball, especially from the tee, as with a driver or driving iron: He drove long and straight throughout the match.
  4. to strive vigorously toward a goal or objective; to work, play, or try wholeheartedly and with determination.
  5. to go along before an impelling force; be impelled: The ship drove before the wind.
  6. to rush or dash violently.
noun
  1. the act of driving.
  2. a trip in a vehicle, especially a short pleasure trip: a Sunday drive in the country.
  3. an impelling along, as of game, cattle, or floating logs, in a particular direction.
  4. the animals, logs, etc., thus driven.
  5. an inner urge that stimulates activity or inhibition; a basic or instinctive need: the hunger drive;sex drive.
  6. a vigorous onset or onward course toward a goal or objective: the drive toward the goal line.
  7. a strong military offensive.
  8. a united effort to accomplish some specific purpose, especially to raise money, as for a charity.
  9. energy and initiative: a person with great drive.
  10. vigorous pressure or effort, as in business.
  11. a road for vehicles, especially a scenic one, as in or along a park, or a short one, as an approach to a house.
  12. a driving mechanism, as of an automobile: gear drive;chain drive.
  13. the point or points of power application to the roadway: front-wheel drive;four-wheel drive.
  14. a storage device, as a flash drive, HDD, or SSD.
  15. Sports.
    • an act or instance of driving a ball, puck, shuttlecock, or the like.
    • the flight of such a ball, puck, shuttlecock, or the like, that has been driven with much force.
  16. a shot, especially with a driver or driving iron from the tee, that is intended to carry a great distance.
  17. a hunt in which game is driven toward stationary hunters.
  18. excitation (def. 5).
adjective
  1. noting or pertaining to a part of a machine or vehicle used for its propulsion.
Verb Phrases
  1. to attempt or intend to convey; allude to; suggest: What are you driving at?
Idioms
  1. to aim a blow or missile at; attack: He let drive at his pursuers.
verb drives, driving, drove (drəʊv) or driven (ˈdrɪvən)
  1. to push, propel, or be pushed or propelled
  2. to control and guide the movement of (a vehicle, draught animal, etc)
  3. to compel or urge to work or act, esp excessively
  4. to goad or force into a specified attitude or state
  5. to cause (an object) to make or form (a hole, crack, etc)
  6. to move or cause to move rapidly by striking or throwing with force
  7. to hit (a ball) very hard and straight, as (in cricket) with the bat swinging more or less vertically
  8. to strike (the ball) with a driver, as in teeing off
  9. (tr)
    • to chase (game) from cover into more open ground
    • to search (an area) for game
  10. to transport or be transported in a driven vehicle
  11. to rush or dash violently, esp against an obstacle or solid object
  12. to carry through or transact with vigour (esp in the phrase drive a hard bargain)
  13. to force (a component) into or out of its location by means of blows or a press
  14. to excavate horizontally
  15. to fell (a tree or trees) by the impact of another felled tree
  16. drive home
    • to cause to penetrate to the fullest extent
    • to make clear by special emphasis
noun
  1. the act of driving
  2. a trip or journey in a driven vehicle
    • a road for vehicles, esp a private road leading to a house
    • (capital when part of a street name)
  3. vigorous or urgent pressure, as in business
  4. a united effort, esp directed towards a common goal
  5. a large gathering of persons to play cards, etc
  6. energy, ambition, or initiative
  7. a motive or interest, such as sex, hunger, or ambition, that actuates an organism to attain a goal
  8. a sustained and powerful military offensive
    • the means by which force, torque, motion, or power is transmitted in a mechanism
    • (as modifier)
  9. a hard straight shot or stroke
  10. a search for and chasing of game towards waiting guns
  11. the signal applied to the input of an amplifier
Drive (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

More Definitions